Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Henry A. McMasters

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

San Antonio National
Cemetery
D-729

Born:1845 at Augusta, ME

Entered
Service in the US Army from Augusta, ME

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Indian Campaigns For
heroism September 29, 1872
at Red River, TX

Died:November
11, 1872 at the age of 27

As Colonel
MacKenzie commanded an expedition over the Staked Plains of
Texas in 1872 to find and rout hostile Indian forces, Companies
A, D, F, I and L of the 4th US Cavalry made a one-day march to
reach the North Fork of the Red River, where a large camp of
Comanche was sighted. As the cavalry moved towards the 280 lodge
encampment, the Indian ponies stampeded and alarmed the Indians
to the soldiers' approach. Immediately they engaged the cavalry
in fierce combat, during which Troop I was leading the advance
to secure the right flank while the remaining companies attacked
the left. In the bloody fight that followed, Corporal Henry
McMasters of Troop A was cited for his bravery. In this action
the camp was taken with the loss of only one soldier killed and
three wounded. For the hostile band of the Mow-wi tribe of
Comanche, it was a stinging defeat so devastating, they quickly
surrendered at Fort Sill ending 17 years of hostilities.(Others
involved in this action: Edward Branagan, William Foster, David
Larkin, William McNamara, William O'Neill, James Pratt, William
Rankin, William Wilson)